LANSING — Bob Genetski would no doubt be embarrassed if the public watched the videotape of his arrest Jan. 19 on a drunken-driving charge on the campus of Michigan State University. You don't have to be a state lawmaker to imagine turning red if you were in his position.

The only people who shouldn't feel embarrassed for Genetski, R-Saugatuck, are the ones who decide whether to share the videotape of his arrest with the public. Those are the administrators of Michigan State University, and they are straining common sense in refusing to provide the full video.

MSU's Freedom of Information Act coordinator is defending the decision to excise six minutes of the video, taken from a police officer's in-car camera, on grounds it would be an "unwarranted invasion of personal privacy."

Actually, there's little to suggest that letting the public see this arrest video is unwarranted or violates Genetski's privacy. Police departments throughout Michigan routinely provide such videos, and this one was played in court, in full. The public knows full well that Genetski was arrested, too.

The only gain from withholding the full video is sparing Genetski some embarrassment. But the public's right to know should far outweigh any discomfort for the lawmaker. Taxpayers should have the chance to judge the conduct of the police, and Genetski's constituents might well make judgements at election time on his fitness to serve, based on what they see.

The university is wrong to treat this arrest video with such secrecy.

It might be considerate that MSU is trying to spare Genetski a dose of shame. It also does not matter. The university should release the full video today.